The Palmdale Aerospace Academy is committed to academic excellence. Guided by the principles and innovation of the Aerospace industry, the educational program integrates steam focused learning with real world applications providing opportunities for students... (cont. On sch. O)...to design, create, and explore. Through industry-inspired learning experiences and partnerships with Aerospace employers, local community colleges, and other partners, students will develop the skills and mindset needed to innovate, adapt, and excel in a rapidly evolving world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 27 volunteers and 347 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.7M a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$91.1M
77% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 77% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$46.4M
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$43.0M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$27.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$46.4M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$32.4M
FY2021$35.6M
FY2022$36.7M
FY2023$51.6M
FY2024$43.7M
FY2025$46.4M
Expenses
$43.0M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$31.3M
FY2021$29.3M
FY2022$35.0M
FY2023$40.4M
FY2024$39.3M
FY2025$43.0M
Net assets
$27.5M
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.8M
FY2021$17.1M
FY2022$18.8M
FY2023$28.6M
FY2024$24.1M
FY2025$27.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2012.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $34.8M Management & general 19% · $8.1M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Superintendent/Executive Director
$216,789Pt VII · Sec A
Elementary School Principal
$179,472Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Health Services
$175,101Pt VII · Sec A
Middle School Principal
$169,533Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Facilities/M&o
$166,405Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Special Education
$158,538Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Principal
$141,685Pt VII · Sec A
High School Principal
$141,442Pt VII · Sec A

Gina Lynch’s $217K as Superintendent/Executive Director is at the 43rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Laura Herman—————$321,555
Gina Lynch$216,789$73,655————
Julie Braswell$140,984$200,984$180,000$172,500$103,440—
Gary Schatz$179,472$154,934$135,353$124,000——
Julie Lovvik$175,101$155,875$146,381———
Timothy Lankford$169,533$133,576————
Paul Dilger$166,405$151,757$148,260$125,100$139,691$122,430
Christopher Riley$158,538$139,127$113,199———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates TK-12 students with a STEM focus through a public charter school.

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1 program · $34.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Operation of a public charter school with a vision to provide an engaging environment for learning in grades TK-12. Our graduates will be supported, encouraged, and challenged to develop the following competencies that they will use for the rest of their lives: -ethical, responsible citizens who lead with integrity -flexible, adaptable…

$34.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$46.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$44.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Money outPt IX
$43.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$34.8M
Managementcol C$8.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$27.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$28.7M
Total assetsLn 16$118.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$91.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$44.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$44.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Total revenueLn 12$46.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$28.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$28.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.1M
Other assetsLn 15$76.3M
Total assetsLn 16$118.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$91.1M
Net assetsLn 32$27.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5347
VolunteersI 627
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$26.6M$28.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.0M$6.1M
Total assetsLn 16$117.3M$118.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$93.1M$91.1M
Net assetsLn 32$24.1M$27.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$393K$269K$125K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$19.4M$16.3M$3.1M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$3.4M$3.1M$269K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4.2M$3.6M$576K
Payroll taxesLn 10$846K$683K$163K
Legal feesLn 11b$789K$789K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.8M$978K$1.8M
Office expensesLn 13$196K$166K$30K
Information technologyLn 14$466K$466K
OccupancyLn 16$285K$285K
TravelLn 17$69K$69K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$394K$98K$296K
InterestLn 20$93K$93K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$5.7M$5.1M$611K
InsuranceLn 23$392K$392K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.6M$3.2M$447K
Total functional expensesLn 25$43.0M$34.8M$8.1M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $46.4M$43.0M$3.4M$27.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $43.7M$39.3M$4.3M$24.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $51.6M$40.4M$11.2M$28.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $36.7M$35.0M$1.7M$18.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $35.6M$29.3M$6.3M$17.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $32.4M$31.3M$1.1M$10.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $46,356,913 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $41,756,036$44,487,879
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $315,525$145,409
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,594,480$1,707,485
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $23,083$16,140
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $43,689,124$46,356,913
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $25,155,531$28,206,273
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $14,194,034$14,774,212
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $39,349,565$42,980,485
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,339,559$3,376,428
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $46,356,913 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$44,069,970
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$417,909
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$44,487,879
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $145,409$145,409
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,707,485$1,707,485
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $16,140$16,140
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $145,409 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,723,625$46,356,913
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $42,980,485 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $268,700 · Management $124,580$393,280
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $16,262,521 · Management $3,115,369$19,377,890
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,127,126 · Management $268,793$3,395,919
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,617,160 · Management $576,113$4,193,273
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $683,204 · Management $162,707$845,911
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $789,275$789,275
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $978,167 · Management $1,831,050$2,809,217
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $166,332 · Management $29,527$195,859
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $465,871$465,871
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $284,726$284,726
IX-17 TravelPrograms $68,833$68,833
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $98,164 · Management $296,000$394,164
IX-20 InterestPrograms $92,665$92,665
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $5,050,543 · Management $611,483$5,662,026
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $391,566$391,566
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,173,371 · Management $446,639$3,620,010
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $34,841,932 · Management $8,138,553 · Fundraising $0$42,980,485
Part X · Balance sheet $118,636,057 assets, 13 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $26,628,368$28,717,529
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $9,731,075$7,446,326
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,979$19,270
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,993,467$6,115,189
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $77,899,055$76,337,743
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $117,257,944$118,636,057
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,462,451$6,643,439
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $9,957,017$7,734,191
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $78,704,317$76,747,840
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $93,123,785$91,125,470
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $24,134,159$27,510,587
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $24,134,159$27,510,587
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $117,257,944$118,636,057
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $27,510,587 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$46,356,913
XI-2 Total expenses$42,980,485
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,376,428
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$24,134,159
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$27,510,587

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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